Don’t fret, Big Red and barbacoa not leaving downtown

The paper-covered windows of Tommy’s Restaurant, 107 S. Flores St., aren’t as ominous as they look. The iconic San Antonio restaurant, with three locations citywide, is merely undergoing a renovation and should open in a couple of weeks, co-owner Victor Ramos said.

The name will change to Tommy’s Cafe, a concept all about efficiency. Remodeling will allow for a less-congested and swifter to-go order process. Seating will decrease from 45 tables to 30, and the number of items on the menu will be trimmed, too.

“It’s going to be the same things we’ve been doing &#151 the tacos and the Mexican plates. It’s just the menu itself is not going to be as big as it used to be,” Ramos said.

The reopening looks to be Feb. 11, if not sooner, Ramos said. And soon, the owners hope to offer online ordering, eventually through mytommys.com.

The restaurant, across the street from the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center, is known to advertise the purely San Antonio combination of Big Red and barbacoa (although the combo can be found in nearly any taqueria or barbacoa joint).